San Francisco 49ers: Former star Brent Jones thrilled that S.F. is back on top

Former 49ers tight end Brent Jones, right, shown with former teammate Jerry Rice in the Google Charity Shootout at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach on Feb. 8, 2011, is excited by his former team's resurgence. (Photo by Patrick Tehan/Mercury News)

With one giant leap, Vernon Davis landed in the record book Sunday. He soared over a New York Giants defender and into the end zone for career touchdown No. 33.

That gave Davis a tie with Brent Jones for the most TDs by a 49ers tight end.

Jones is happy to be associated with the 49ers' latest celebration. He's been trying for years to explain to his daughters, Courtney and Rachel, what life was like when 49ers were the toast of the town.

"The Bay Area used to come alive during football season. There was an electricity every fall -- it was something palpable," Jones said Tuesday. "I started wondering, 'Do people just not care that much any more?'

"Well, that electricity is back. In a big way."

The 49ers are 8-1 for the first time since 1997 -- Jones' final season. And he's been savoring the buzz long before Davis' touchdown propelled the team's 27-20 victory Sunday over the Giants.

Jones hears about the resurgence every time he steps outside.

"You name it: Starbucks, the gas station, the supermarket. People stop me and say, 'How 'bout our 49ers?' " he said. "It's so much fun. I haven't had that for 10 years or so. For a long time, I was just getting the occasional, 'Our team stinks.' Or 'You could come back and play right now.' "

Jones, 48, won three Super Bowl rings and made four Pro Bowls during a 49ers career that spanned from 1987-97. These days, he is managing partner at Northgate Capital, an investment firm in Danville that he cofounded in 2000.

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He's constantly on the go. He joked Tuesday that life was easier back when coaches laid out the itinerary, "and I didn't have to think." But he still finds time to watch the 49ers on Sundays. His oldest, Rachel, went to the game Sunday and came back amazed by the raucous crowd and intense atmosphere.

"I told her, 'That's what it used to be like all the time,' " Jones said. "We didn't know anything else."

Jones, a graduate of Leland High and the University of Santa Clara, recalled just how high the bar was set during the 49ers' glory days. The first of his record-setting touchdowns came against the Phoenix Cardinals on Nov. 6, 1988, when he caught a 3-yard pass from Steve Young.

At the time, it gave the 49ers a 23-0 lead in the third quarter. "But then all heck broke loose," Jones said. Phoenix roared back to win 24-23.

"I didn't even care about the touchdown. It was as if I didn't score," he said. "The locker room was upset. I remember (owner) Eddie DeBartolo being very upset. If you remember, the team was in disarray for two weeks."

The 49ers got over it. They went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII.

Jones recorded the final touchdown of his career on Sept. 14, 1997, when he caught a 1-yarder from Young for the second of his two scores against the New Orleans Saints.

He was 34 years old at the time. Davis is a mere 27. "I'm guessing he's going to go ahead and ﻿break that record," Jones said with a laugh. "Records are made to be broken, and I figured, with him, it was just a matter of time."

On the other hand, if Jones wanted to cling to the mark a little longer, he could point to the additional five touchdowns he scored in postseason games.